Piston Beechcraft Accidents 8/1/2024 through 8/7/2024
Official information from FAA and NTSB sources (unless otherwise noted). Editorial comments (contained in parentheses), year-to-date summary and closing comments are those of the author. All information is preliminary and subject to change. Comments are meant solely to enhance flying safety. Please use these reports to help you more accurately evaluate the potential risks when you make your own decisions about how and when to fly.
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THE WEEKLY ACCIDENT UPDATE IS AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCT OF MASTERY FLIGHT TRAINING, INC.
From unofficial sources
8/3 (1344 local time Saturday afternoon): Three aboard a Be55 died, and the Baron was “destroyed,” near Fazenda Água Branca, northwest of Birigui, São Paulo Brazil. From the Aviation Safety Network:
A Beechcraft 95-A55 Baron crashed in a field near Fazenda Água Branca, northwest of Birigui, São Paulo, and burst into flames. The three occupants perished and the aircraft was destroyed. ADS-B data shows that aircraft took off from runway 31 at SJWQ at 13:41 LT. It climbed for about two minutes until it entered a spiralling [sic] descent at a high descent rate, until it impacted the ground. The aircraft had the Colemill President II conversion with IO-550E engines. PS-RCM (TC-369) was a 1961 A55.
(“Loss of control in flight”; “Fatal”; “Aircraft destroyed”—this may have been a steep spiral, evidenced by the high rate or descent, or possibly a flat spin out of a single-engine stall as has been suggested by several persons only. Video posted online is more indicative of a steep spiral, but also may have been instigated by and engine failure leading to a Vmc rollover event).
New reports this week
8/2 1650Z (1150 local Friday noontime): A Be36 “experienced wind shear while attempting to takeoff” at Cullman, Alabama. The Bonanza “crash landed at the departure end of the runway.” The pilot and two passengers were not hurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N718FG (E-858) is a 1976 A36.
(“Collision with terrain on takeoff/wind shear”)
8/5 1847Z (1247 local Monday afternoon): A Be18 “ground looped on landing and hit a runway sign,” at Denver, Colorado. None of the three aboard was hurt and airplane damage is not reported. N49265 (s/n 39265) is a 1943 UC-45J.
(“Loss of directional control during landing/tailwheel”)
8/6 0037Z (2037 local Monday evening 8/5/24): A Be60 landed gear up at Pompano Beach, Florida. Both persons aboard the Duke were unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N7PX (P-448) is a 1977 B60.
(“Gear up landing”)
8/6 1559Z (1059 local Tuesday morning): Four aboard a Be33 died, and the Bonanza was “destroyed,” when its “left wing struck a hay bale and [the aircraft] crashed into trees” during an attempted takeoff at Sundance Airport, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. N8095U (CE-1692) was a 1992 F33A.
(“Collision with obstacle during takeoff”; “Fatal”; “Airplane destroyed”—local sources tell me the airplane was fully fueled and the ambient temperature was 103°F (40°C) for takeoff from the 5000-foot (1500 meter) paved runway. This may be a performance issue, a pilot technique issue or an engine failure of some sort, we have no firm data yet).
8/6 2140Z (1740 local Tuesday evening): A Be58 landed gear up at Kalamazoo, Michigan. The three aboard were unhurt and airplane damage is “unknown.” N484WW (TH-909) is a 1978 Baron 58.
(”Gear up landing”)
New NTSB reports this week
7/29 A36 engine failure immediately after takeoff at Naples, Florida. The owner called me, wanting to share some details so others will learn from his experience. He tells me the Naples airport is surrounded by urban areas with no good place for an off-airport landing. His engine has had some anomalies recently he had been getting checked by a reputable mechanic, and it appeared all was running well before the accident flight. Shortly after liftoff there was a partial but noticeable loss of engine power; the pilot executed his preplanned option of pushing the nose down then landing gear up on the remaining runway to avoid rolling off the departure end, sacrificing the airplane to protect its occupants exactly as we all at least say we should do. He credits regular training with a type-knowledgeable instructor and his frequent consideration of accident scenarios with this successful outcome. Well done, pilot!
2024 SUMMARY
Reported Beechcraft piston mishaps, 2024
Total reported: 86 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 35 reports
Operation in IMC: 1 report
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 51 reports
Operation at night: 6 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 12 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 20 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 14 reports
BONANZA/BARON Series: 68 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be35 Bonanza 21 reports
Be55 Baron 16 reports
Be36 Bonanza 15 reports
Be33 Debonair/Bonanza 13 reports
Be58 Baron 6 reports
Environment
Operation in VMC: 28 reports
Operation in IMC: 1 report
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 38 reports
Operation at night: 5 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 11 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 12 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 12 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 12 reports
Impact during landing 2 reports
Collision with obstacle during landing 1 report (Be55)
Landed short/Collided with vehicle on ground 1 report (Be55)
Loss of Control in Flight (LOC-I) 3 reports
Stall/spin/Loss of control in flight/Dual instruction 1 report (Be55)
Loss of control in flight 1 report (Be55)
Inflight breakup 1 report (Be35)
Inflight fire
Fire in flight during go-around 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff/ attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Impact during takeoff 2 reports
Takeoff/unknown/attempt to return to runway 1 report (Be36)
Collision with obstacle during takeoff 1 report (Be33)
Unknown
Crash/unknown 1 report (Be35)
OTHER EVENTS 57 reports
Landing gear related mishaps 29 reports
Gear up landing 12 reports (Be23/24, five Be35s; two Be36s; two Be55s; two Be58s)
Gear collapse during landing 9 reports (two Be33s; Be35; Be36; five Be55s)
Gear up landing after electrical failure 2 reports (Be33/Be36)
Inadvertent gear retraction during landing 1 report (Be58)
Inadvertent gear retraction during taxi 1 report (Be35)
Wheel separation during landing 1 report (Be36)
Gear collapse during landing/Post-crash fire 1 report (Be36)
Inadvertent gear retraction on the ground/touch and go 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure 12 reports
Engine failure in flight 4 reports (two Be33s; two Be35s)
Engine failure during takeoff/overran runaway 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure during takeoff/loss of directional control on runway 1 report (Be35)
Engine failure/oil pressure loss in flight/off-airport landing 1 report (Be36)
Engine failure in the traffic pattern 1 report (Be33)
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Catastrophic engine failure in flight 1 report (Be55)
Partial power loss immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be36)
Impact during landing 6 reports
Loss of directional control during landing 2 reports (Be33; Be35)
Runway overrun/door open after liftoff/attempted to land on remaining runway/nose gear collapse 1 report (Be33)
Propeller strike/damage to both wings during landing 1 report (Be35)
Loss of control during landing/airplane flipped upside down 1 report (Be55)
Porpoised on landing 1 report (Be33)
Impact during takeoff 4 reports
Runway overrun/aborted takeoff 1 report (Be58)
Loss of directional control during takeoff/crosswinds 1 report (Be35)
Collision with terrain on takeoff/wind shear 1 report (Be36)
Takeoff/unknown 1 report (Be35)
Miscellaneous
Bird strike 2 reports (Be33; Be36)
Severe turbulence/hail encounter 1 report (Be58)
Taxiway excursion at night 1 report (Be36)
Cowling came off in flight 1 report (Be36)
Taxi into obstacle/aircraft 1 report (Be33)
Windshield separation during pressurized flight 1 report (Be58)
BEECH AERO CLUB Series: 12 reports
By Aircraft Type
Be23 Musketeer/Sundowner 5 reports
Be24 Sierra 4 reports
Be76 Duchess 2 reports
Be19 Sport 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 6 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 6 reports
Operation at night: 0 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 1 report
Fatal accidents: 0 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 5 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 1 report
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 1 report
Engine failure immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be23)
OTHER EVENTS 11 reports
Impact on landing 4 reports
Loss of directional control during landing/runway excursion 2 reports (Be23; Be23-24)
Hard landing/nose gear collapse/destroyed by fire 1 report (Be23)
Loss of directional control during attempted go-around 1 report (Be23)
Landing gear mishaps 4 reports
Gear collapse during landing 1 report (Be76)
Landing gear mechanical malfunction 1 report (Be24)
Gear up landing 1 report (Be24)
Gear collapse during takeoff 1 report (Be76)
Impact on takeoff 1 report
Engine failure during/immediately after takeoff 1 report (Be24)
Engine failure 1 report
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be19)
MISCELLANEOUS Models: 8 reports
Be45 (T-34) Mentor 3 reports
Be60 Duke 3 reports
Be17 Staggerwing 1 report
Be18 Twin Beech 1 report
Environment
Operation in VMC: 4 reports
Operation in IMC: 0 reports
Weather “unknown” or “not reported”: 4 reports
Operation at night: 0 reports
Most Serious Injury
“Serious” injury accidents (not involving fatalities): 0 reports
Fatal accidents: 2 reports
Aircraft damage
“Substantial” damage: 2 reports
Aircraft “destroyed”: 2 reports
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF CAUSE
(all subject to update per official findings):
FATAL and SERIOUS INJURY EVENTS 2 reports
Engine failure in flight 1 report (Be60)
OTHER EVENTS 7 reports
Gear up landing 4 reports (two Be45s; two Be60s)
Asymmetric gear extension/inflight system failure 1 report (Be60)
Landed with gear partly extended 1 report (Be17)
Loss of directional control during landing/tailwheel 1 report (Be18)
Recognize an N-number? Want to check on friends or family that may have been involved in a cited mishap? Click here to find the registered owner. Please accept my sincere personal condolences if you or anyone you know was involved in a mishap. I welcome your comments, suggestions and criticisms.
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